GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Talk about conditioned stimulus. Whistle a Grand Rapids Griffins power play when they play Rockford, and a goal won’t be far behind.

The Griffins scored a season-high three power-play goals Wednesday, continuing a season-long spell over the IceHogs in a 4-2 victory before 3,672 at Van Andel Arena in the opener of a six-game homestand.

Ryan Sproul’s first-period goal tied it and Mitch Callahan had the go-ahead goal with 2:25 left in the second period, both with a man advantage, to help the Griffins improve to 6-1-0-1 against their Midwest Division rivals.

The Griffins (24-9-1-2) have taken advantage of the man advantage all season against Rockford (16-16-3-2). They scored three times in eight opportunities Wednesday, after converting eight of 26 (30.8 percent) in eight previous games. That includes at least one power-play goal in every game but one.

The Griffins also have scored with a man advantage the past three games.

"I wasn't aware of that particular stat, but our power play has got to be the difference in some games, and I thought tonight it was," Callahan said. "I think with our power play, we're just trying to keep it simple and get pucks to the net instead of making cute finesse plays."

Overall, the Griffins are 10th in the league in power plays at 18.7 percent.

The third power-play goal came from Riley Sheahan with 30 seconds remaining, coming after the IceHogs took a slashing penalty after pulling their goalie.

Coach Jeff Blashill thought the execution of the special teams wasn't as sharp as past games, despite the results.

"I actually thought they were a little situational," he said. "Some nights your power play is real good and you don't score, and tonight I didn't think our power play was great, but we kind of scored on weird times, including the one at the end.

"I think our power play, especially our breakout, has to be better."

The IceHogs, who defeated the Griffins 4-2 at home on Jan. 4, scored first on their own power play. Drew LeBlance took a feed from in back of the net from Brad Winchester and shoved it past goalie Tom McCollum six minutes into the game.

The Griffins, after one missed power play, converted on the second when Sproul connected on a slap shot about five feet inside the blue line with 2:44 left in the first period.

Callahan scored his team-leading 14th goal with 2:25 left in the second period with about 20 seconds left on a power play. His shot in front was juggled in the air by goalie Jason LaBarbera, who couldn’t hold it, and Callahan converted his rebound.

Brennan Evans put the Griffins ahead 3-1 less than two minutes into the third.

The power play turned against the Griffins late as Adam Clendening scored a short-handed goal with 12 minutes left in the game.
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Overall, McCollum, appearing in his 13th consecutive game, faced 33 shots. The Griffins had 40 shots on LaBarbera, making just his fifth start on the season after appearing in seven games in the NHL earlier this season with Edmonton.

NOTESThe Griffins moved up to second in AHL average attendance at 7,792, thanks to serving as the home team for the outdoor game Dec. 30 at Comerica Park. Attendance for that game was 20,337. Hershey leads the league at 9,209 per game … A 4-by-6 foot card of support for the West Michigan Whitecaps was placed on the concourse for fans to sign. It will remain through Jan. 16. The Whitecaps’ Fifth Third Ballpark suffered major fire damage Jan. 3 … The Griffins and IceHogs, who have played three times since Dec. 20, won’t meet again until March 28.